Flintoff the latest in the long line of foot faults

Derek Pringle explores the history of customized boots for fast bowlers as Andrew Flintoff heads to Germany where Adidas are fashioning a protective boot for him.

Most manufacturers of cricket equipment offered a single model of bowling boot, and probably still do, though the research and development costs that went into it would have been minimal. Dissatisfaction with the lack of choice and quality caused most serious bowlers to explore other alternatives, which led many to specialist cobblers like Whiting's and Ian Mason in Sutton Coldfield, and Hope Sweeney in Australia.